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Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

It’s
been hundreds of thousands of years since the first simple jewelry pieces
were crafted from seashells, bone, and animal skin. In the years since our
ancestors first left the African continent, Egypt has become a dominant
civilization in ancient history. They were empowered by advances in technology,
and access to gemstones and precious metals. They were inspired by the culture
of royalty and nobles who had a deep appreciation for luxury and it wasn’t long
before they became the leading force in manufacturing jewelry and creating
long lasting trends.

Perhaps
the moment that define the rise in Egyptian jewelry was the discovery of
gold. This allowed Egyptians to collect vast quantities of the metal which was
the perfect material to create elaborate Egyptian jewelry designs.

The
ancient Egyptians valued personal adornment highly and Egyptian jewelry was
worn by women and men, and of all
social classes. Their statues of gods and kings were decked with lavish jewels.
The deceased were adorned in jewelry for their send off into the afterlife.
All types of Egyptian jewelry were popular, including bracelets, earrings,
collar pieces, anklets, armbands, and rings.

Golden
jewelry became a status symbol in pre-dynastic Egypt. It was a symbol of
power, religion, and status. It enabled it to before a greater focus for
families of nobility, and royals. This created a larger demand for elaborate
pieces.

High
grade Egyptian jewelry was a majorly desired trade item in the ancient world.
Their craftsmanship was found across territories including Turkey, Rome,
ancient Persia, and Greece.

The
Egyptian nobility favored bracelets, necklaces, amulets, pendants, belts, and
hair beads. They loved pieces that had been designed with scrolls, tigers,
scarab beetles, winged birds, jackals, antelopes, and tigers. One of the more
interesting materials that was commonly used is coloured glass. It was first
discovered in Egypt and upon its initial discovery it was incredibly expensive
due to its rarity. Coloured glass can be found in Egyptian jewelry depicting
birds. The glass was used to represent the feathers.

The
nobles wore their expensive jewelry in death as well, and this tradition of
securing it in difficult to reach places has allowed archaeologists to discover
large quantities of this wealth, perfectly preserved.

Materials and Metals

The
predominant materials used to craft Egyptian jewelry were gold and copper.
The masses could afford the copper, with the nobility opting for gold. Both
were mined in Nubian deserts and in abundant supply. Silver is very rarely
uncovered in excavations through Egypt- any use of it was due to its
importation, as silver wasn’t available in ancient Egypt. Jewelrs would use
gold that came in shades of grey, to reddish brown, and rose. The colour variation
was due to the mixing of elements such as copper, iron, or silver into the
gold.

Gems & Stones

The
more lavish pieces of Egyptian jewelry were inlaid with semiprecious stones
and various gems. The most prized stones were, as mentioned above, lapis
lazuli, as well as obsidian, garnet, rock crystal, and carnelian. Pearls and
emeralds were the most commonly uses stones native to Egypt. Although, faience
was also used commonly. This was made from ground quartz and then mixed with a
colourant that was heated and then moulded to mimic more natural and expensive
stones. The most popular of which was a blue-green shade made to imitate
turquoise.

Types of Jewelry

Perhaps
the most iconic ornament from ancient Egypt is the wide collar necklace. It was
generally made of beaded rows and shaped like flowers or animals. The collar
was stretched over the wearer from breast to collarbone. It was also common for
pendants to be strung on beaded necklaces, bearing an amulet of protection.
Both men and women wore earrings, and rings were also popular for men and
women.

Protective Amulets

Protective
amulets could be worn as independent pieces, but they were often fused into
Egyptian jewelry. These amulets were talismans or charms that were believed
to either infuse the amulet with power, or to protect the wearer. The amulets
were carved into various shapes and forms, including symbols, humans, animals,
and gods. Additionally, the amulets were seen as equally significant protectors
of the living and the dead. Amulets were made specifically for the afterlife,
as memorial jewelry was customary for ancient Egypt.

Archaeologists
have garnered knowledge about the culture through excavation tombs. Among the
artifacts were everyday objects, as well as jewelry. Their clothing was
relatively plain, however Egyptian jewelry was incredibly ornate. Every
ancient Egyptian owned jewelry, regardless of gender or class. The ornaments
included heart scarabs, lucky charms, bracelets, beaded necklaces, and rings.
For noble Egyptians, like queens and pharaohs, the Egyptian jewelry was made
from precious metals, minerals, gems, and coloured glass. While others wore,
jewelry made from rocks, bones, clay, animal teeth, and shells.

Heart Scarabs

Heart
scarabs were common types of funerary amulets. They were sometimes
heart-shaped, however, generally beetle or oval shaped. They got their name
because the amulet was placed over the heart before burial. The belief was that
it counteracted the heart’s separation from the body in the afterlife. The
heart chronicled a person’s actions through life, according to Egyptian
mythology. In death, the dead would meet the god Anubis, who would perform
judgement in the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony.

Beaded Necklaces

Beaded
necklaces were also popular amongst Egyptian jewelry. These necklaces often
featured amulets and charms, and were made from varying sizes and shapes of
beads. The beads were made from minerals, semi-precious stones, clay, and
glass.

Spiritual Significance

Egyptians
were deep believers in jewelry’s spiritual significance. It was worn to ward
off evil spirits, protect their health, as well as bring good luck. Certain
colours, designs, and materials were associated with supernatural powers and
deities. Carnelian, for example, is an orange-red stone which was suggestive of
blood- this infused an ornament with potency and energy. Egyptian jewelers
followed very strict rules regarding the mystical aspects of their jewelry
creations.